Blood Diamond

As is was Valentine's Day yesterday Alison and I went out on a date. We ended up at the pictures and went to see Blood Diamond. If you want a good review of this movie then read Fernando's thoughts, he's a much better film reviewer than me!

As we left the film Alison said, "so what can we do about this, after all we're unlikely to be buying anything with a diamond in it soon". I had been thinking the same thought and while the film had stirred me, made me aware of an issue that previously was not forefront in my mind, I felt that there was no appropriate response I could make.

Oh what a limited imagination I have! Of course there's stuff we all can do in connection this this issue. The film ends with some slides giving stats about the blood diamond trade. One slide states that there are 200,000 child soldiers in Africa. 200,000.

So here's the thought that came to me when I was praying this morning - what if we all donated the price of our cinema ticket and popcorn (if you bought some) to an organization that is working to rescue these kids, rehabilitate them and repatriate them with their families? My ticket was £6.25, popcorn £3.75 = £10. Why don't you blog this idea, talk to your friends about it, get your church, faith community etc., involved - let's not just be moved by a powerful piece of cinema, let's do something!

HERE is one place you can give to and I'm sure there are many others.

This Site gives some links so you can write and keep pressure on people connected with the diamond industry.

Comments

[Margaret Sutherland]

Simon Jones on his blog says that we will be celebrating the end 200 years ago of the transatlantic slave trade. We should also be lamenting the fact that we still benefit from this iniquitous trade and should be drawing attention to the fact that more people are trafficked today than were transported at the height of the trade that Wilberforce opposed and attempted to stop by Parliamentary action. Quite a thought too! Check this out - Stop the Traffik, visit their website at www.stopthetraffik.org

[Brodie]

Margaret - yes there is much to lament and much still to do. I do however think that the 200th celebrations are helping bring into focus the present slave trade. The Stop the Traffik stuff is great- I've also friends who are involved with this project http://www.protest4.com/ which is worth checking out and supporting.

[RODNEY NEILL]

Brodie,

I must admit I and my wife Suzanne opted for Rocky Balboa as our film to watch this week at the pictures - escapist sentimental entertainment. Did you enjoy Blood Diamond as a movie?

[brodie]

Rodney - I guess to answer your question I need to qualify what I mean by enjoy. If you mean did I leave the cinema with a a feel good feeling and a smile on my face, then no I did not enjoy Blood Diamond. If however we by enjoy we mean was this a film you'd see again or recomend to friends then yes I did enjoy it. It is well shot, has a strong script and is on the whole well acted. There were even inthe darkness moments of humour when the whole cinema laughed out loud. What was perhaps most telling was the scilence at the end of the film when information about the "cost" of blood diamonds appears on screen.

[fernando]

Interesting to read your comments and ideas for practically responsding to the issue.

The question of "enjoying" the arts in general and films in particular probably merits a whole discussion of its own. But, for me, one of the "joys" of moviegoing is the conversations that arise as we share our experiences of films. Oftentimes the least "enjoyable" films generate the most interesting and compelling conversations. Certainly Blood Diamond fits that bill for me.

[brad]

brodie, great idea. thanks for the thoughts...

[Brodie]

Fernando - I'll look forward to your post on "enjoying" the arts.

[Brodie]

Brad - thanks for your comments